Jameel McClain loves to defy the odds, overcoming a bout with homelessness as a teenager growing up in Philadelphia before earning a football scholarship to Syracuse.

The veteran weak-side inside linebacker conquered another obstacle Sunday, starting his first game in 10 months since returning from a spinal cord contusion suffered last December.

Since getting hurt against the Washington Redskins last year, McClain was told by at least one doctor that he would never play football again. However, he was on the field in Sunday's 19-16 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

"I waited a long time for this moment," McClain said. "My vision was something different than what happened. On a personal note, it's good I was able to get the opportunity to go back out there when it wasn't believed it was possible. On a team note, it's very disappointing. It's not even sweet. It's bitter.

"We lost, so I played bad. You can't play good when you lose. It's a bad feeling. It's tough, man. It's like a nightmare come true."

McClain lined up in the base defense next to middle linebacker Daryl Smith with rookie second-round draft pick Arthur Brown operating on obvious passing downs. McClain appeared to have no difficulties physically, recording five tackles.

The play was designed for Tucker to recover the footballbut didn't work out as planned. It wound up leading to a Steelers field goal.

"It was one of those calculated risk plays," Tucker said. "Their center on kick return made a good play and hit me right as I was making contact with the ball. We're trying to steal a possession and give our offense the ball with good field position.

"No one is going to question our stones, ever. We're playing to win the game. We're not into moral victories."

It was also a painful experience for Tucker.

While trying to recover the loose football, Tucker was struck in the ear hole. The hit required Tucker to get treated for a cut on his left ear.

"I just cut my ear, no stitches," Tucker said. "It probably looked a lot worse than it was, just a little blood."

"I got to do a better job of being aware of the strike zone," Dumervil said. "I think I played a little too aggressive. I have to do a better job and not cost the team."

Later in the drive, Dumervil combined with nose tackle Haloti Ngata for a sack on third down at the Ravens' 17-yard line.

It was nullified, though, because Dumervil committed a facemask penalty that led to a Steelers field goal.

"You just can't grab the facemask, but Ben ducks all the time," Harbaugh said. "What do you say? This is the biggest, strongest quarterback in the NFL. We have to wrap him up strong and bring him down, but you feel yourself around the face area, he drops down, you have to get your fingers out of there somehow. Maybe there's a way to coach that other than talking about it, but you don't want to get the facemask."

Although left offensive guard Kelechi Osemele will have his back evaluated again following the season, no surgical procedure is currently planned, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.

Osemele was forced out of a game against the Miami Dolphins due to back spasms. He had his back examined thoroughly prior to the season and no surgery was recommended, per the source.

Osemele has had an up-and-down season and the source said the player is dealing with some frustrations.

Wildcat attack

The Steelers broke character offensively and a bit of new ground as they ran a handful of Wildcat plays.

The Ravens admitted that the gambit caught them off guard.

"They did some new things that we haven't seen from them, not just all year but like ever," outside linebacker Terrell Suggs said. "Pittsburgh has never come out and run the Wildcat on us. They've never come out and run with extra linemen. You just got to be able to adjust on the fly."